Page 16 of Playing with My Heart

He snorted, shaking his head. “Says the guy who almost took out a bird with his last pitch.”

“Hey, that bird had it coming,” I retorted, winking at him. The table erupted in laughter, and I reveled in the sound of Parker’s chuckles mingling with the rest.

“Travis, man, you’re on fire tonight,” Akio observed, nudging Jasper under the table. They shared a look that I couldn’t quite decipher.

“Can’t help it. Parker brings out my A-game,” I said, shrugging nonchalantly.

“Or maybe he just brings out the real you,” Jasper murmured, so soft I almost didn’t catch it over the din of the pub.

The server returned with our bills, signaling the end of our evening. We finished paying and then we all headed outside. “We enjoyed meeting you, Parker,” Akio said, his eyes darting over to me. “Travis will have to bring you again sometime.”

“Anytime,” I replied, feeling a heat rise in my chest over the fact that my friends had clearly accepted Parker. Even better, they seemed to truly like him.

As we continued toward our cars, Jasper tugged at my sleeve and steered me a few steps behind the others. “Okay, spill. What’s the deal with you and Parker?”

“Deal? There’s no deal,” I insisted, but the intensity of Jasper’s gaze made me wonder if I was trying to convince him or myself.

“Come on, T. I’ve known you for years, and I’ve never seen you like this with anyone. You’re different with him.” Jasper crossed his arms, the streetlights casting shadows across his face. “There’s definitely chemistry there, and I don’t think it’s one-sided.”

“Jasper.” I sighed, running a hand through my hair. “He’s got a boyfriend. And we’re just friends.”

“Uh-huh.” Jasper didn’t look convinced. “Just remember, people who are ‘just friends’ don’t look at each other the way you two do.”

“Look, it’s complicated, okay?” I muttered, frustration knotting in my stomach.

“Everything worth having is a little complicated, right?” Jasper clapped me on the shoulder before heading towards Maks, who waited with an understanding smile.

I watched them go, their easy affection a stark contrast to the mix of emotions inside me. Turning back to Parker, I saw him laughing at something Akio said, and my heart did a damn somersault.

“Travis, coming?” Parker called out, beckoning me over with a grin.

“Yeah,” I murmured, my heart doing crazy things as I walked toward him.

We left Akio and Morgan at their car then moved on to mine. A comfortable silence settled over us on the drive home, each of us lost in our thoughts. My mind kept replaying Jasper’s words.You’re different with him.Was it that obvious? The way my heart raced when Parker laughed, how I hung on to every word he said?

“Thanks for tonight, Travis.” Parker’s voice pulled me from my thoughts. “I needed this.”

“You’re welcome,” I replied, trying to keep the emotion from my voice. “That’s what friends are for, right?”

“Right.” He nodded, but there was a hesitation in his voice that made me wonder if he felt it too—that spark, that pull.

We reached his apartment building, and he turned to face me, his expression unreadable in the dim light. “Goodnight, Travis.”

“Goodnight, Parker.”

He disappeared inside, but I continued sitting there, staring out the window but not really seeing anything. Jasper’s words echoed in my head, mixing with the feelings I couldn’t deny any longer. The truth hit me like a fastball to the gut—I was falling for Parker Reyes. But he was taken, off-limits. And I was supposed to be the carefree playboy who didn’t do complicated.

What the hell was I supposed to do now?

Chapter Six

PARKER

The rich scent of freshly ground coffee beans filled the air as I opened the door to the tiny coffee shop. I held it open for Travis, his easy grin acknowledging the gesture as we stepped inside. We were on a break from the non-stop pace of physical therapy sessions, and we’d both agreed that caffeine was needed if we were going to make it through the rest of the afternoon.

“Hey, I wanted to say again that I really enjoyed meeting your friends the other night,” I said, weaving through the small tables toward the counter. “They’re a great group of guys.”

“Thanks.” He stood next to me, his hands tucked casually in his pants pockets. “Like I said before, they’re family to me. I’m pretty damn lucky to have them.”

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